Dog whiskers, also known as vibrissae, are specialized hairs that grow above a dogs eyes and on their cheeks, muzzle, and chin. They are different from most other hairs on a dogs body because they are considerably more rigid and embedded more deeply into the skin. Here are some of the functions of dog whiskers:

• Sensory perception: Whiskers are more sensitive than regular hairs because the follicles from which they originate are packed with blood vessels and nerves. They are specifically tuned sensory equipment that guide a dog through daily activities. These specialized hairs aid vision and help a dog navigate his environment by providing additional sensory input, much like antennae on insects.

• Communication: Whiskers can also communicate emotions, such as happiness or anxiety when a dog is in a stressful situation. Dogs who are relaxed hold their whiskers in almost a flattened manner, while dogs who are anxious will have piloerection, where their hair kind of stands on end.

• Navigation: Whiskers help dogs "see" things that lie right under their noses by constantly sending information to the canine brain. As a dog approaches something in his path, he stirs up air currents that bounce back when they hit solid objects. Whiskers can detect the size, shape, and speed of nearby objects based on the movement of air currents. Whiskers in different areas give a dog specific information about their environment. For example, whiskers on the muzzle are mainly used to aid in navigating their surroundings, especially in low-light conditions or dense vegetation, whiskers around the muzzle provide extremely useful information about the specific topography of nearby objects. Whiskers on the cheeks, also known as genal whiskers, help dogs navigate through cramped spaces and keep their head upright while swimming.

• Protection: Whiskers serve as an early warning device that something is near the face and thus helps the dog prevent colliding with walls or objects and alerts the dog that something is approaching which might damage his face or eyes. With intact vibrissae, the dog actually does not have to make physical contact with a surface to know it is there. These special hairs are so sensitive that they also register slight changes in air currents.

It is important to note that removing dog whiskers can cause stress, disorientation, and temporary disruption in daily activities of the canine.